Press Releases
Press releases and articles about Dean Bergeron published over the last few years.
2008
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2005
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1999
Dean Bergeron finishes 4th in two competitions
Dean Bergeron finished 4th in two competitions that count towards the prestigious America Series of wheelchair racing.
He posted excellent results in the 5K competition in Cedartown, Georgia, last June 28. In the T-52 (tetraplegic) class, Dean took 4th place in 13:54.6, only two minutes behind Spain's Santiago Sanz, who won gold.
"I'm happy with my push," said Dean. "Because of my studies and work, I started the season really late and couldn't train the way I should have (...). With my new wheelchair I can climb so much better than last year, which is a real plus. I'll never be a great climber, but I can keep up with the rest of the gang."
A week later on July 4 in the Peachtree 10K, won by Santiago Sanz in 24:13.03, Dean came in 4th with a time of 30:15.21.
World record holder in the 400M, Dean has competed in many world and Canadian championships, including the Atlanta and Sydney Paralympic Games in 1996 and 2000, accumulating medals and setting records along the way. In 2004, he also represented Canada in the Athens Paralympic Games.
Dean thinks about his future as an athlete
The Athens Paralympic Games have ended. Dean Bergeron shares some post-competition thoughts with us.
"Athens, September 27, 2004 - Yesterday marked the end of the competitions for me. Although it's still too soon to do a final assessment of my season, these Games proved to be real physical and emotional challenge for me.
First of all, there was my disappointing finish in the 400m. I thought I was going to beat the world record for this distance, in a time of less than one minute. I was only able to manage a fifth place finish in a time of 1 min 02 sec. Then, in the 1500m, I got caught up in the Japanese athlete's fall. I had a fantastic chance at a medal, I was feeling great and, in an instant, my dreams were shattered. Fortunately, the bronze medal for the 800m restored my confidence. This race was by far my best race of the year. By beating the old world record, I also set a new Canadian record and a personal best. Finally, in the 200m, I knew that I would have to have the race of my life to make it to the podium. They say that fourth is the worst place to finish. I can certainly vouch for that.
A new racing chair
Since yesterday, I keep going over my races to find ways to improve. A new chair is in order. I met with the Japanese team OX this morning and we designed my next chair. It will be ready in a few months.
Technically speaking, I definitely need to improve my starts to remain competitive in short distance races (100m and 200m). A special bodybuilding program in the gym and a complete review of my technique and positioning in the chair must also be taken into consideration. As for the other distances (400m, 800m and 1500m), I need to find a way to remain limber while waiting in the marshalling area. In training and road races, I don't have that problem because there's no real break between the time your warm-up ends and your training or race begins. During major international competitions, you may have to wait up to one hour between the end of your warm-up and the start of the race. Muscles become less supple and it's harder to get read of lactic acid (waste produced by muscles on exertion).
The level of competition is evolving very rapidly in this sport. This can be explained mainly by better equipment and better training techniques. Certain athletes attend up to 12 training sessions a week. Long- and middle-distance racers cover up to 90km a day! At the same time, these athletes are supported by a team of massage therapists, nutritionists and personal fitness trainers. I need to completely review my training if I want to compete with them. I must also find a way to balance my schedule as an athlete and an actuary. There are only 24 hours in a day.
Right now, I keep thinking about my future as a racer. On the one hand, I want to stay in shape. I know that deep down I'm an athlete and I want to be a successful one. I don't want to race knowing that I didn't have everything I needed to compete with my opponents. I'll have some important choices to make. That's the first lesson I learned from these Games.
In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone who wrote to me and thought about me this week. You provided great moral support and were very helpful throughout these Games.
Talk to you soon! Dean"
Paralympic Games Now Over
Lévis, September 28, 2004 - In his final race at the Athens Paralympic Games last Sunday, Dean Bergeron completed the 200m race in a time of 32.45 seconds, finishing in fourth place. The gold medal went to André Beaudoin who completed the race in 31.22 seconds.
Today, Tuesday, September 28th, marks the close of the Athens Paralympic Games. The stadium gods weren't on Dean's side this year, but he did raise his medal count over three Paralympic Games to eight. At the 1996 Atlanta games, Dean was awarded one gold and four other medals, in 2000 in Sydney, he won two medals and earned the bronze in the 800m race at the 2004 Athens games.
Dean bronzes the 800m
Lévis, September 27, 2004 - Dean Bergeron took the bronze medal in the 800m (T52) finals. The 35-year-old athlete clocked in at 2 minutes 00.42 seconds, finishing third behind Morocco's Abdellah Ez Zine (1 min. 58.68 sec.) and Australian rival Thomas Geierspichler (1min. 58.69 sec.). Montreal's André Beaudoin (2 min. 02.99 sec.) finished fifth.
"Finally! Bronze in a race from hell," wrote Dean Bergeron. "It was a personal best and a Canadian record, so I'm very pleased with my race. It feels really great! I only have the 200m left now. The semifinals are tomorrow night and the finals Monday night. I'm looking forward to coming home! Hi to everyone back in Canada!"
Collision Prevents Dean from Finishing the 1500m
Lévis, September 24, 2004 - Today, Friday, September 24, Dean Bergeron qualified for the 800m final. Yesterday, he was unable to complete the 1500m race as the result of a collision with a racer who had fallen over in front of him. Fortunately, Dean was not hurt and he is now preparing for the 800m race which will take place on Saturday night. Below is a message from Dean:
"The 400m was a disappointing race for me and the 1500m final proved to be very frustrating. What happened was completely unexpected. I had qualified in the semi-final with the 2nd best time and I was ready for a great race. At the start, the Australian, Lauchlan Jones, quickly went out ahead with two Japanese athletes in pursuit. The other racers were close behind and I ended up behind the Austrian, Thomas Geirespichler. The intensity picked up quickly as of the first lap around the course. After 600m, the peleton had caught up to the Australian. I was feeling great and everything was going fine until one of the two Japanese racers lost control and toppled over. Thomas, who was in front of me, was able to narrowly escape. I was not so lucky and was unable to avoid the collision. That's how my race ended. I was very lucky not to have been injured, only a few minor scrapes. It's very frustrating to miss the last few minutes of a great movie. Up until that point, my race had been an excellent movie. Talk to you soon! Dean »
Second best time for Dean in the 1500m
Lévis, September 23, 2004 - Although he finished 5th in the 400m at the Athens Paralympic Games yesterday, September 22nd, Dean keeps his world record from 1995. The fastest person in the race was clocked at 1 minute 0.92 seconds. Toshohiro Takada from Japan won gold and André Beaudoin took home the silver.
Dean, who also raced in the 1500m, recorded the second best time in that race.
"I'm really disappointed with my 5th place finish in the 400m, said Dean in an email. "Everything looked really good in the morning and during my warm up before the race. But when I got to the stadium, I started to have spasms in my lower back. Maybe it was fatigue, stress, I don't know. All I can do now is turn the page, and leave the record for another time."
The 1500m finals are taking place today, September 23rd.
Beaudoin and Bergeron Finish First in Respective Heats
Athens Paralympic Games - 4 m races
Montreal, September 21, 2004 (Sportcom) - André Beaudoin and Dean Bergeron finish first in their respective heats of the 400 m semifinals at the Athens Paralympic Games.
André Beaudoin, from Montreal, covered the distance in 1:01.61 while Dean Bergeron of
St-Augustin-de-Desmaures clocked a time of 1:01.77. Sure that several of the competitors had held back voluntarily, the two athletes weren't making much of their first place finishes.
"This was a decisive first contact with the stadium, but the race will be much tougher tomorrow. Many competitors have saved their energy for the finals," said Dean Bergeron, who had the fastest time of the 12 participants.
André Beaudoin agreed. "I think we're in store for some surprises. We have to be ready for a much faster paced competition, and be on our guard. Fortunately, we'll have a day and a half to rest because the race is in the evening. What's encouraging for me is that I recorded one of my better times."
Dean Bergeron intends to complete the 400m wheelchair race in under one minute at the Athens Paralympic Games and beat his world record
Levis, September 9, 2004 - Dean Bergeron intends to become the first paraplegic racer to complete the 400m in under one minute, and beat the 400m world record, at the upcoming Athens Paralympic Games, from September 17th to 28th, 2004. "I have accomplished this feat on a few occasions this year in training," stated the Quebec athlete. "I just have to repeat it in a race situation now. In recent years, I have really focused my efforts on beating this nine-year-old record. It would really be great to accomplish this goal at this major event in Athens." To beat the world record for this distance, Dean Bergeron has to complete the race in under 1:00.27 min, something he achieved at the Canadian Championships in 1995.
Dean Bergeron, one of the veterans of the Canadian paralympic team, has participated in many world and national championships over the past ten years. At the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, he earned a gold medal in the 200m, silver medals in the 400m, 800m and 1500m and a bronze medal in the 100m. At the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, he won two bronze medals, in the 200m and 400m. "I feel great physically and mentally, I'm ready for these Games and I'm really looking forward to racing in the stadium," added Dean.
Dean Bergeron will be participating in four events at the Athens Paralympic Games, the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m. Although he earned the chance to race in the marathon, he will not be able to participate due to an event scheduling conflict.
This paralympic athlete is an actuary at Desjardins Financial Security. The Company has been supporting Dean both financially and by facilitating his participation in the competitions since 1995. In addition, the life and health insurer has completely revamped the www.deanbergeron.ca website for the athlete. His performances in Athens will be posted on the site as soon as they are known. Visitors can write to Dean and pass on words of encouragement directly through the site. The site also contains a wealth of information about Dean Bergeron, including biographical notes, 2004 competition results and schedule, as well as records and distinctions.
About Desjardins Financial Security
Desjardins Financial Security, a subsidiary of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, specializes in life and health insurance and retirement savings plans. More than 5 million Canadians depend on it every day to ensure their financial security. It has 3,675 employees and more than $14 billion in assets. Desjardins Financial Security has offices in a number of cities across Canada: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Levis and Halifax.
Desjardins Financial Security continues to support Dean Bergeron
Lévis, August 12, 2004 - Dean Bergeron, world record holder in the wheelchair 400 metre, will represent Canada in five events at the Paralympic Games in Athens from September 17 to 28. Desjardins Financial Security, which has supported Dean since 1995, today announced the renewal of its sponsorship agreement and the launch of its new Website www.deanbergeron.ca.
"Dean Bergeron is a fine example of courage, perseverance and determination for his colleagues, and for people in general," asserts Daniel Roussel, Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications of Desjardins Financial Security. "After sustaining a serious injury at a hockey training camp, Dean successfully completed his physical and social rehabilitation, finished school, rediscovered his taste for competition and started an actuarial career. He has been an actuary with our company for ten years."
"Having the support of Desjardins Financial Security makes it easier for me to compete," Dean Bergeron adds. "2004 was a very important year for me. All the training and competing I've done over the past few years have been in preparation for the big event in Athens. I intend to beat my world record and become the first paraplegic racer to complete the 400 m in under one minute."
Qualifying for the Athens Paralympic Games
Dean Bergeron qualified to compete in the Athens marathon by completing the Boston marathon in under two hours and ranking second in his category on April 19. His performances in the Sherbrooke competitions from June 4 to 6 then earned him a place on the starting line for the 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m at the Athens Paralympic Games.
Dean competed in several other events throughout the year, both in Canada and the U.S. (the Montreal Défi sportif, the road race in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he finished in first place, and the America Series in Toronto, Ontario, Long Island, New York and Atlanta, Georgia). The weekend of August 6-8, he competed in the Edmonton national paralympic events, where he finished first in the 400 m and second in the 800 m.
Born in La Baie (now Saguenay), Quebec, on February 12, 1969, Dean Bergeron has always loved sports, especially hockey. At 17 years old, with a bright future ahead of him, he joined the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. But the following year, his life fell apart. Following a serious injury at a training camp, Dean became paraplegic.
Actuarial studies and wheelchair racing
Confined to his wheelchair, Dean Bergeron began his social and physical rehabilitation, and started school at Laval University. He received his bachelor's degree in Actuarial Science in 1992. Two years later, he joined the actuarial team at Desjardins Financial Security.
Dean Bergeron took up physical activity again during his time at Laval, and started training for wheelchair racing. Until 1992, he raced sporadically and rediscovered his taste for competition. Two years later, he landed a gold medal, two silvers and a bronze at the Canadian wheelchair athletics championships. Since then, he has raced in several Canadian and world championships, and in the Atlanta Paralympic Games in 1996 and the Sydney Paralympic Games in 2000, where he has earned medals and breaking records.
Desjardins Financial Security supports Dean Bergeron both financially and by facilitating his participation in the competitions. In addition, the life and health insurer has completely revamped the www.deanbergeron.ca Website for the athlete. His performances in Athens will be posted on the site as soon as they are known. Visitors can write to Dean and pass on words of encouragement directly through the site. The site also contains a wealth of information about Dean Bergeron: biographical notes, 2004 competition results and schedule, as well as records and distinctions.
About Desjardins Financial Security
Desjardins Financial Security, a subsidiary of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, specializes in life and health insurance and retirement savings plans. More than 5 million Canadians depend on it every day to ensure their financial security. It has 3,675 employees and more than $14 billion in assets. Desjardins Financial Security has offices in a number of cities across Canada: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Levis and Halifax.
Sydney Paralympic Games: Dean Bergeron, Two-Time Gold Medallist, Back in Quebec City Tonight
Levis, October 31, 2000 - Quebec City wheelchair athlete Dean Bergeron, two-time bronze medal winner at the Sydney Paralympic Games, will be back in town tonight at 11:20 p.m. The public is cordially invited to come out and greet him.
Bergeron won a medal in the 200-meter race, with a time of 34.27 seconds, and the 400-meter event, with a time of 1 minute, 6.08 seconds. He also ranked 6th in the 100-meter and 800-meter races.
Dean Bergeron has been working for Desjardins-Laurentian Life Assurance for six years. The company is extremely proud to have an athlete of this caliber on staff, and has been providing financial support for his Olympic aspirations since 1995.
Sydney Paralympic Games: Dean Bergeron -- Two Bronze Medals to Date
Levis, October 31, 2000 - Quebec City wheelchair athlete Dean Bergeron has won two bronze medals at the Sydney Paralympic Games.
Bergeron won a medal in the 200-meter race, with a time of 34.27 seconds, and the 400-meter event, with a time of 1 minute, 6.08 seconds. He also ranked 6th in the 100-meter and 800-meter races.
The 400-meter final was particularly demanding for Bergeron, who had qualified in the repechage. The event took place in the rain, under difficult conditions. He decided at the last minute to change his position in the chair; although reducing maximum speed, this tactic also saved energy. The strategy paid off, with Bergeron passing three other racers in the last 200 meters to place third. "I'm extremely pleased with my standing," he said after the competition. "Bouncing back like that from my morning performance was just as good as a gold medal." The Quebec native's final event at the Games, the 100-meter race, will take place on Friday, October 27.
Dean Bergeron has been working for Desjardins-Laurentian Life Assurance for six years. The company is extremely proud to have an athlete of this caliber on staff, and has been providing financial support for his Olympic aspirations since 1995.
27 Hundredths of a Second from New 400-Meter World Record
Levis, March 1, 1999 - After two fairly quiet seasons in 1997 and 1998, Dean Bergeron appears to have the tiger by the tail in 1999, finishing first in the 100 and 200-meter events, second in the 400 and 800-meter races, and third in the 1,500-meter competition at the Australian Championships at the end of January.
Although track-racing is still his specialty, Bergeron also did very well in road-racing, finishing second in the 1-km prologue, fourth in the 10-km race, and third in the 15-km event.
His next appearance will be the Boston Marathon (42 km, or 26 miles), slated for April 19. A number of other competitions will also follow throughout the year, but Bergeron remains focused primarily on the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia.
Bergeron is among today's best wheelchair track athletes, excelling at events of 1,500 meters and under. "André Beaudoin, who's also from Canada, broke my 200-meter record last summer," Bergeron remarked. "In the short term, my goal is to get that title back, but I also want to finish the 400-meter race in less than a minute. I set my world record in this event in 1995 with a time of 1 minute, .27 seconds. Since then, wheelchair athletes from all over the world have been trying to be the first to break down the one-minute psychological barrier."
This Quebec native will have any number of opportunities to set new records at competitions in Atlanta and Toronto in July. "The tracks are very fast," noted Bergeron. "If Mother Nature cooperates, one of us could very well break the 400-meter world record. I just have to be the first to get to the finish line!"
Bergeron first made his mark at the World Athletics Championship held in England in 1995, bringing home three gold medals. The following year he won five medals at the Atlanta Paralympics, and was four-time national quadriplegic champion in the 1997 Canadian Championship in Toronto.
Bergeron has been working as an actuarial analyst for Desjardins-Laurentian Life Assurance for five years. The Company takes great interest in his sports career, and has encouraged him in his ambitions by sponsoring him for four years now.